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ADVENT 2014: Gratefully anticipating the comings of Christ

This is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The entrance antiphon names our Advent hope: “Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.” (Is 45: 8)

Today’s scriptures reveal a God who makes a home with us, One who takes on our very humanity to love us more completely, and does this with human consent and cooperation. Mary is an example of faithful discipleship, trusting God despite her doubts, and doing what is needed to make God's will a present reality. Like Mary, it’s up to us to prepare the way -- for God to make a home in our hearts and lives. How is the presence of Christ becoming real in you? How can we, the body of Christ, become light and life for the world?

AT LAST!!Good things come to those who wait! The Worship Center will be rededicated and our new CONNECTOR will be blessed at the weekend celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany on January 3-4, 2015 and Archbishop Kurtz will be joining us at the 11:30 Liturgy! The pastors from our Covenant Churches will also be present.

Each Liturgy on the weekend of January 3-4, 2015 will be followed by a reception. (Please wear red on our feast day.)

The dedication of the Habitat House at 228 North 23rd Street will be Saturday, December 13, at 1:00 pm. We will celebrate with the homeowner, Heather, and her family.

Epiphany and three other parishes, St. Margaret Mary, St. Albert the Great, and St. Patrick, have worked together in this Quartet Build. This year they called it the 6 by 4 in 12, six houses built by 4 parishes in 12 years!

The Wednesdays for Women group is in need of a lot of homemade cookies!

Each year they donate hundreds and hundreds of cookies to St. Vincent de Paul for their male, female, and children residents. In addition, several trays are made for their children’s toy distribution event.

Homemade cookies can be dropped off Wednesday, December 17 at the Lighthouse between 9:00 and 10:00 AM. All are welcome to stay and help assemble trays, tins, and bags!

She was preceded in death by her first husband, James B. Simpson; second husband, James Ward Copening; her parents; brothers, Raymond, Andrew W. and Edward F. Hornung; and a sister, Anna Mae Copperthwaite.

She was a retired executive secretary and supply manager for the IRS and Census Bureau.

ADVENT 2014: Gratefully anticipating the comings of Christ

Third Sunday of Advent: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near. (Phil 4: 4-5; today’s Entrance Antiphon). This third Sunday of Advent is also called “Gaudete” (“Rejoice”) Sunday. Today’s scriptures show us that we have great cause for joy - and that we’re called to share it. We are a people anointed by God and called by our baptism to bring joy to the poor, healing to the broken hearted, freedom to prisoners, a year of debt relief to everyone. These are just some of the ways that God enters our world. How are you aware of God coming into your life? For which of God’s gifts are you most grateful? How are you being invited to bring joy to those in need? Like John the Baptizer, we are called to testify to the light; may our Advent preparations help make God’s presence ever brighter in the darkest corners of our world.

The Giving Tree is placed in the Connector. You are invited to take an ornament with instructions for a gift for someone in need. Gifts you can give are varied according to the needs of each organization that has identified the need and who will disseminate the gifts.

The Deadline for receiving Giving Tree Gifts will be after the 11:30 Mass on Sunday December 14, 2014.

Boxes will be placed in an area near the tree for you to put your gift in it – boxes organized by shape of the ornament that you took. Please keep in mind that there is only a two week span to get your gift together.

Twice a year, at Christmas and Easter, the Community Care Ministry arranges to deliver flowers to our sick and homebound and those who have recently lost loved ones. This year Christmas flower pickup and delivery will be on Saturday, December 13 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

Our new church year begins on November 30 with the First Sunday of Advent. There are many wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth during this season of hopeful expectation of God’s wonderful presence in our lives. One of these is the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this season.

There will be opportunities for individual celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation on these three Saturdays of Advent:

December 6, 2014

December 13, 2014

December 20, 2014

The sacrament will be available in the Chapel from 4:00 PM until the last person is heard.

ADVENT 2014: Gratefully anticipating the comings of Christ

This is the Second Sunday of Advent: Today’s scriptures remind us that it is God who shepherds us, feeds us, gathers us, is faithful to divine promises, and baptizes us in the Holy Spirit. Like John the Baptizer, we continually prepare for divine presence by living with faithfulness and presence, by living with faithfulness and openness to God and one another. We “make straight the way of the Lord” by eagerly welcoming God’s abiding presence, fully receiving with gratitude God’s good gifts of justice and peace - and living them out. What helps you remain open to God’s gifts? How are you making ready for God to come into your heart, your home, your school or workplace in new ways?

Along with the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations, give yourself the gift of prayer and reflection. Then you will be able to prepare your heart and mind to fully receive the many ways Christ comes to you, and discover how to live each day with gratitude and compassion. Remember to “seize the opportunities” for reflection that come as we wait – in while shopping, in traffic, check-out lines, while our goodies bake…